Two new sailors feature in the line-up as well as a role change in Richard Mason’s role, now Watch Captain in recognition of his extensive experience. This is Mason’s fourth Volvo Ocean Race and his contribution to Team Sanya to date has been significant.

David Rolfe (Dingo) is a new addition to the team in the role of Helmsman/Trimmer, replacing Chris Main. David’s experience includes three previous Volvo Ocean Races on Swedish Match, SEB and Ericsson. Rolfe also has extensive America’s Cup, maxi and TP52 experience as well as countless offshore campaigns. His trimming, driving and extensive sailmaking skills will be a huge asset to Team Sanya.

Also added to the team is Jared Henderson (Beach) who is replacing Andy Meiklejohn, who is recovering from a broken foot sustained in Leg One. Beach has extensive experience including doing the bow on Merit Cup in the 1996/97 race and many years on the World Match Racing Circuit, America’s Cup and for years running the TP52 Artemis. Although Henderson had moved back in recent years to spending more time in the pit and trimming, his ability as an all rounder that is also a world class bowman makes him a great Volvo sailor.

Mike welcomed the new team members and added his views on the latest line-up: “It is never nice when one of your guys gets injured. Andy sustained a badly broken ankle on the first night out of Alicante, but I can now confirm that, as of yesterday, his cast has been removed and he is on the road to recovery with physio and sports massage to get back to fighting fitness. These things do take time though and so we are incredibly fortunate to have been able to get a replacement bowman/all rounder with the experience of Jared Henderson, he will be a great asset to the team.

Then our second addition is David Rolfe. David and I used to be sailmakers together so I know him well, although I haven’t done that much sailing with him, I have done plenty against him and know him as a formidable opponent, so I know he is fast!! His all-round ability combined with an amazing work ethic around the boat will be good for us as we battle to get Team Sanya back to where she should be for the Leg Two “mixing it up”. It’s great to be able to welcome both these guys to the sailing team and I look forward to racing with them to Abu Dhabi.

The Team Sanya Shore Team won the DHL Shore Team Award for Leg One yesterday at the prizegiving. In acknowledgement of the epic mission to get their boat back into the Volvo Ocean Race after suffering structural failure in the first six hours of Leg 1, it was decided Sanya’s shore crew were the most deserving of the award. Accepting the award on behalf of the team’s shore crew, COO & Operations Director David Duff said: “We had a bit of a mission to say the least. We have had a great team here and we were back out sailing today. We had confidence in our team and it all came together.”